O2ForIndia initiative by Ola Foundation now in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Ola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Ola, has made its O2ForIndia initiative available in Hyderabad to provide free and easy access to oxygen concentrators for home isolation patients during this ongoing wave of COVID-19 infections.

The O2forIndia initiative received the support of Telangana government on the occasion of Telangana Formation Day, in the presence of Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce and IT.

The whole experience is set up to be seamless through the Ola app and is completely free, including the doorstep delivery and pick up. An initial about 500 concentrators have been made available and this will be scaled up as per need, with about 10,000 concentrators available across the country. Ola Foundation has partnered with GiveIndia for the O2forIndia initiative.

Under this initiative, caregivers and home-isolation patients can now place requests for oxygen concentrators through the Ola app itself by providing a few basic details. After submitting the necessary details, Ola will arrange for free home-delivery of the oxygen concentrator by specially trained personnel through Ola cabs. After the patient gets better and no longer requires oxygen support or is no longer in home isolation, Ola will arrange for the oxygen concentrator to be picked up and thereafter to be sterilised and ready for use by the next patient.

Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce, and IT, Government of Telangana said, “Oxygen concentrators have been found to be very effective for both patients who are suffering from mild to moderate symptoms, and also for patients who have come back to their homes after a spell of hospitalisation as a part of their post-Covid recovery. However, the entire process of purchasing a concentrator and owning one is a very cumbersome process, and typically individuals find it very difficult to access one. What Ola, therefore, is doing is something very valuable. I do hope that needy people in Hyderabad make use of this facility and get aided in their quick recovery.”

Gaurav Porwal, COO, Ola, said, “There is an acute need for improved access to life saving equipment like oxygen concentrators as many are struggling to manage COVID-19 patients at home. Under our O2forIndia initiative, we hope to bring relief to the home-isolation patients in Hyderabad who need oxygen support.”

Sujai Karampuri, Director EV, Government of Telangana added “Telangana has been putting up a brave fight against Covid. We can see that political Leaders, government officers, NGO’s and independent volunteers have been putting up all efforts to mobilise resources for the needy. OLA coming up with this timely initiative will add to the ammunition in our fight against Covid -19.”

Ola stands committed to contributing to community efforts during this pandemic which requires all of us to join hands and fight this together.